The federal Conservatives have elected a new leader.

Andrew Scheer, a Saskatchewan MP, rose to the top over 12 other candidates Saturday to replace former leader Stephen Harper.

Scheer, a former speaker of the House of the Commons, edged out Quebec MP Maxime Bernier.

B.C. MP for Okanagan-Shuswap Mel Arnold, who鈥檚 at the convention in Toronto, called the race 鈥渁mazing.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 great. Andrew was my second choice,鈥� said Arnold, who had originally backed Erin O鈥橳oole, an Ontario MP.

With the leadership race over, Arnold says Scheer鈥檚 first priority must be party unity.

鈥淗e needs to pull all of the teams together. There鈥檚 a lot of knowledge there,鈥� said Arnold, adding that the goal is to prepare for the 2019 election.

鈥淲e will come together to beat the Liberals. People are tired of a tax at every turn and the Liberals have no plans of implementing any of those (election) promises. We have to show that we can do better.鈥�